Suggested writing team: Project coordinators (PT, IHZ, BvL, CA + PB). Lead author: Peter Thorne.
Updated Schedule from Peter T: 20/11 – PT to circulate brief format for proposals; umbrella programme document + individual project proposals (x3) for comment / agreement. 27/11 – Feedback on format from writing team 04/12 – PT to produce zero draft of umbrella document (including various contributions from Washington, Wageningen and Bamako) and circulate to writing team 31/12 – Inputs received from writing team.
3 regional proposals will be very similar (structure etc) with some local customizing
Need to be sure we work towards what USAID really want.
Raw content more or less there - PT will point to any gaps in zero draft.
Research questions need some work still; maybe some others?
need to recruit a specialised writer to assist with proposal
Need to get SAG inputs to the proposal, once we have a reasonable draft - right timing and role is critical.
SEE ALL ACTIONS BELOW +: ACTION: PCT team to review all outputs ACTION: Connect Boni with a USAID champion writer ACTION: The PCT needs to devise a consultation process. ACTION: Involve the SAG in the phase 2 proposal
External evaluation reviews and updates
Visit to West Africa - review team writing up notes
Ethiopia planning for Feb-Mar visit; but no updates. Need to prepare the documentation well
ESA planning
2
Theory of change and impact pathways
By and large finalized. Not many comments on the document that was generated in Wageningen and presented in Bamako
Integrate as part of proposal ACTION: PT to provide clean template to insert xyz (see more notes on that above)
3
Systems research
Well covered at program strategy workshop in Bamako. See results in proposal phase 2 work
Integrate as part of proposal
3a
Evidence of success / narratives
Ongoing collection of stories/possible briefs - to check continually at PCT (what could be added to this pipeline) ESA/WA: We have 11 draft evidence briefs, need to be re-formatted and approved by chief scientists, some still pending, all will be completed by early January
Smallholder small ruminant productivity and livelihood can be improved markedly through feed and health interventions
Doubled-up legume technology: Boosting land productivity by intercropping two grain legumes with different growth habits
Small Ruminant Corralling Density, Plant Density and Nitrogen Rate Effect on Maize Yield
Situation analysis and operational feasibility of promoting the production and consumption of locally available micronutrient-rich foods in northern Ghana
Reducing the high cyclical losses after harvest: the neglected input in the production chain
How are Africa RISING Interventions Affecting Production Diversity and Dietary Quality? Evidence from Northern Ghana
Web-Based Project Monitoring and Data Management: What did we learn from Africa RISING?
Soil Nitrogen Management and Farming Systems Analysis in Malawi
Diversify Production, Improve Diets? Evidence from Malawi
Targeting and Bias in Participatory Research: Evidence from Malawi
A comparison of statistical and participatory clustering of smallholder farming systems - a case study in Northern Ghana
ACTION: ELB to share template and criteria with chief scientists ACTION: PCT to table, on an ongoing basis, the identification of potential brief topics.
3b
Cost-benefit analysis
Nearly there. Good model for Ghana and the methodology is there but we need to improve this. Once we improve it it's usable.
3c
Engaging multi-stakeholders into program activities
Nearly there. IHZ has a revised version. Final version of 1/2 page text available. Engagement standards expanded to beyond farmers revised. Final draft almost done.
ACTION: IHZ will be working on this with Patrick Okori and Gundula Fischer next week: done
ACTION: IHZ to work with MB and Regis for ESA guidelines for payment, and with Asamoah and Birhanu for Mali: Not done ACTION: BvL could ask Marc Schut (who works on M&E of platforms in HumidTropics) what is possible for a program like Africa RISING
3d
Typologies
We will be producing the first typologies by end November and we will circulate these typologies to research teams.
ACTION: CA and Jeroen to circulate the typologies report in November
ACTION: Chief scientists to (ask their scientists to) provide a rationale about: "Under what circumstances are inputs provided that are subsidized or not"? including data to back this up. We need a trials list with 3 rows: inputs provided, subsidized, not provided.
ACTION: KM to circulate a format to chief scientist.
3e
Targets and SI benefits
Real progress made there but we need to be able to explain how we came up with target figures. Integrated with vision of success
ACTION: Carlo & Bernard to work further on this (DONE) ACTION: Develop a brief on the targets.
Sieg and her group took this on and refined the template, the framework (added indicators), refined definitions, dropped some indicators. They made progress but we need to keep on eye on the complexity. They're working on a more complex data collection for the research teams. It may make them reluctant to collect so we may have to balance these objectives with the capacity we have on the ground.
3g
Research questions
Not progressed much in Bamako - work pending on taking stock of all other inputs into phase 2 proposal
ACTION: Writing team to revisit these research questions once all other work streams have been reviewed by the team and brought together again.
3h
Nutrition
All outputs delivered
ACTION: PCT team to review these outputs
3i
Gender & diversity
All outputs delivered
ACTION: IHZ & PT to ask Annet, Gundula, Mariama and Caroline Sobgui to look into the nutrition experiences in Mali. ACTION: PCT team to review these outputs
3j
Data management and M&E
Plans elaborated with participants. See more details in the Bamako pages
ACTION: Specify, in the proposal, the data that will be collected and uploaded onto the data platform.
Parked for now - Phase 1 action list, some overlap with above
Action
Discussion points/actions
Format
Team
Explain and document and capitalize on our system-level perspectives. Define AR identity and unique selling points - roles, beneficiaries, value added …
info in the proposal
Irmgard, Peter T, Peter B., Kindu, Asamoah, Mateete, Bernard, Jerry, Carlo
Document and contextualize impact/adoption through data. Explain/document R&D impact and institutional impact. Carry out socioeconomic analysis ad risks.
reports,flyers, materials with evidence, case studies per country, some for symposium? Selling our key USPs - systems, the 5 SI domains
Carlo+4, Bekele, Asamoah, Mateete, Peter T., Jonathan, Simret, Peter B.,
Identify and document technology packages and protocols (link to farmer typologies)
database of technologies; some other types of derivative products (factsheets)
ALL through the PMMT, Peter T., Jeroen, Carlo, bernard
Develop and use system-wide SI indicators; AR own small group to speed this up.
Discuss at October workshop
Irmgard, Peter T., Bernard, Jerry, Carlo
Data management: farm/farmer data; queryable database of AR farmers
LATER
PT/CA to discuss soon
IFPRI team, ILRI, in collaboration with the research teams
Projects to clarify R4D/IPs roles, objectives and approach - especially to IP members and participants. ESA and WA to document their platforms and guidelines and practices
useful for the external review team / include in symposium maybe
Mateete, Asamoah, Peter T.
Recruit AR manager/administrator for program level work packages
LATER
July/aug pct meeting discuss further.
Irmgard, Peter T., Peter B., Carlo
Recruit M&E data staffing/people into each regional project
LATR
include in phase 2 based on phase 1 experiences. TOR by Carlo; recruitment joint effort
Irmgard, Peter T., Peter B., Carlo
Strengthen relations with AID missions
LATER
do streams B and C for missions. Use Tracey in Ethiopia
Africa RISING PCT meeting
18 November 2015Virtual
1600-1730 (EAT)
Participants
Boni Moyo (BM) - chair
Peter Thorne (PT)
Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon (IHZ)
Bernard van Lauwe (BvL)
Carlo Azzarri (CA)
Peter Ballantyne (PB) - notes
Apologies:
Jerry Glover (JG)
PCT page
Agenda
Overall action points
See also timetable and milestones for this
Suggested writing team: Project coordinators (PT, IHZ, BvL, CA + PB). Lead author: Peter Thorne.
Updated Schedule from Peter T:
20/11 – PT to circulate brief format for proposals; umbrella programme document + individual project proposals (x3) for comment / agreement.
27/11 – Feedback on format from writing team
04/12 – PT to produce zero draft of umbrella document (including various contributions from Washington, Wageningen and Bamako) and circulate to writing team
31/12 – Inputs received from writing team.
See link to resources
ACTION: PCT team to review all outputs
ACTION: Connect Boni with a USAID champion writer
ACTION: The PCT needs to devise a consultation process.
ACTION: Involve the SAG in the phase 2 proposal
Ethiopia planning for Feb-Mar visit; but no updates. Need to prepare the documentation well
ESA planning
ACTION: PT to provide clean template to insert xyz (see more notes on that above)
ESA/WA: We have 11 draft evidence briefs, need to be re-formatted and approved by chief scientists, some still pending, all will be completed by early January
ACTION: PCT to table, on an ongoing basis, the identification of potential brief topics.
IHZ has a revised version.
Final version of 1/2 page text available. Engagement standards expanded to beyond farmers revised. Final draft almost done.
ACTION: IHZ to work with MB and Regis for ESA guidelines for payment, and with Asamoah and Birhanu for Mali: Not done
ACTION: BvL could ask Marc Schut (who works on M&E of platforms in HumidTropics) what is possible for a program like Africa RISING
ACTION: Chief scientists to (ask their scientists to) provide a rationale about: "Under what circumstances are inputs provided that are subsidized or not"? including data to back this up. We need a trials list with 3 rows: inputs provided, subsidized, not provided.
ACTION: KM to circulate a format to chief scientist.
ACTION: Develop a brief on the targets.
ACTION: PCT team to review these outputs
Had discussions with Ghana Mission
Parked for now - Phase 1 action list, some overlap with above